What phrases or topics immediately shut down your interest in a conversation?

[tmande2nd]

Witcher fans getting all insulting and preachy when I say I dont like their game.
"You obviously dont even KNOW what makes a good RPG idiot"

Yes I do.
I just dont waste time talking to fanboys.

 

[Johnny Impact]

As a mother...

Yes.

Congratulations, you can perform a biological imperative that 99% of the female creatures on the planet can fulfil, it doesn't make your opinion more valid.

I swear, some people would think taking a shit would make them more important if some people were unable to ¬_¬

Some people are unable to take a shit. My father had diverticulitis resulting in surgery. He wore a bag at his waist for months. After the second surgery put everything right again, he didn't mind saying he was proud to be able to take a crap.

I'm right there with you on the motherhood thing though. Most difficult job on the planet, my ass.

OT: Any phrase that indicates total, willful ignorance.

"Kill the towel-heads!" Oh, brilliant. Because wanton slaughter will solve all problems. They sound like the people they hate and they don't even get it.

"No homo, but....." Whatever is about to be said, I am thankful the speaker did me the courtesy of letting me know he's a fearful, insecure little ***** who doesn't trust himself or his friends enough to speak his mind. I have said, in a crowd of insecure guys, "Chris Hemsworth is a chiseled chunk of man-meat." And he is. They can deny it and look like fools, or admit it and look like fags. There's no way out.

"I'm the boss and I said so." Used to justify a bad idea that has been defeated logically.

Any time people claim to know the mind of god. Beings of infinite power, wisdom, age, and knowledge do not lend themselves to human understanding, full stop. Any claim to the contrary is based on ignorance, hubris, and a desire for control. It's a pity more people don't understand that.

"Evolution is just a theory." Science gave us light bulbs, internal combustion, suspension bridges, gunpowder, disinfectant, brain surgery, cell phones, the Internet, the clothes you are wearing right now, the fillings in your teeth, and the material that cushions your chair. Are those things merely theory? I think we can agree they are not. Could science be wrong? No, science is never wrong, though it is occasionally mistaken. The thing is, the mistakes of science are cleaned up by newer, better science. When you can clean up the "mistake" of evolution with a better theory -- and just so we're clear, "God did it" is NOT better -- then I'll listen. Until then: Your ignorant pie-hole, please shut it.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Another one:

"Piracy is theft!"

Because I can pretty much tune out as I know right away the person has fuck all idea of what they are talking about.

While it is technically inaccurate, it's much easier than saying the following:

"Piracy is a criminal act that is under most countries seen as equal to theft due to the obtaining of intellectual property that you have no right to access without paying for."

Until a term is used to describe it in a more easier way, it's much simpler to say it's theft, even though it technically isn't.

My personal issue with this subject, is that it isn't mere misinformation or misconception from laymen; it's a lie that's been actively propagated by the industry for years.

Piracy is terrible, but to explain why it's terrible requires introducing the layman to concepts that they may not agree with or enjoy (like "ownership vs licensing" or that whole mess over copyright).

But yeah, I can't believe I forgot to mention the "Piracy = Theft" thread in my list.

 

[Phasmal]

`Emasculation`.
Someone mentions that and I cannot take the conversation seriously anymore and I lose all interest.
If the other person is someone who thinks that they can be/men can be made less of a man by the actions of others, then talking to them is kind of a waste of time.

 

[Loonyyy]

Religion or diet.

Because there is no way that conversation ends without me offending someone greatly. If someone really wants to take it up with me, I'll um and ah, give them plenty of time to back out, before destroying both their opinion of me, and of themselves.

 

[Griffolion]

"If God doesn't exist, then why/how come..."

"If God exists, then why/how come..."

Nope, just nope. The person saying that is very rarely asking the question genuinely, they are making rhetoric. They are already convinced of what they are about to say, and are simply putting it out there to feel around for others sharing the same view so the fragility of their ego won't be exposed. These topics/conversations rarely are about looking for "truth" or for the sheer want of knowing more, it's bullheaded competition. Who's intellectual dick is bigger. Who can reference more books. Who can wax lyrical the most about any given subject. Who can get the last word. Who can get in the most passive-aggressive, thinly veiled insults as part of their counterpoints.

Also, politics. There are a select few people I'll discuss politics with, those are the people I know will not outright insult or otherwise make it personal when discussing political issues. It should also be worth noting, absolutely none of these people on my "discussing politics white list" are people I engage with over the internet, they are all face to face.

Also, off topic, but on the topic of general things that may annoy: story toppers. Jeeze, give it an effing rest, will you? Okay, we get it, you have a deep psychological need to constantly be "better" than those around you. Daddy didn't love you enough, you started watching HBO a little too early, someone was mean to you once. It didn't win you friends when you started, it isn't winning you friends now, and it's almost guaranteed not to win you them in the future.

 

[Krantos]

Religion.

Very few people, on any side of the fence, can actually have a civil, respectful discussion about it. And you'll never change anybody's mind about it, so why bother?

Also politics can be one, but it's not as universally bad. I've had a number of good conversations with conservatives that lead to us both walking away with a better understanding of the other person's side. Still a rare thing though.

 

[Beautiful End]

The "As 'insert profession here' who..." phrase is not bad when it is used correctly. For example:

-"CoD is badass! I am ready for a real war! Bring it oooooooon!"
-"As someone who's been in Iran, believe me, no, you're not."
So yeah.

Also, sexist or racist statement. As soon as someone says something like that, i tune out and leave as soon as possible.

Anything religious. I never force my atheist views on others. (or try really hard not to, anyway.) But as soon as someone starts this shit I'm out.
My only interest in such things are from a mythological point of view.

Exactly. Funny you phrased it better than I could. I try to be respectful and discreet about me being an atheist. But I swear as soon as some religious people find out about it, I'm seen as a demon or their next good cause. Just try and be respectful in the same way I am being respectful, please!
Same with politics.

EDIT: Just found one out about 5 seconds ago. People who won't shut up! See, i can take a hint when someone has lost interest in our conversation so I can stop, even if I'm talking about something that I'm passionate about. But there's people who just can't stop. Even if you tell them you're leaving or you're in a rush or something, they keep going. So at that point, I'm forced to be obviously rude to try and get them to stop.
It doesn't always work.

 

[Moonlight Butterfly]

My best friend likes to talk to me about cars and their inner workings he also likes to run decisions he is going to make by me but then takes like weeks to make up his mind.

I love him and everything but after the fortieth time hearing him deliberate between a RX8 and a Mini I kind of want to stab him in the face until he speaks no more.

 

[darkfox85]

It seems to me that topics that get other people to shut down have the opposite effect on me. When someone starts talking about something I disagree with (pro-religion/anti-feminism/racism/traditionalism etc) I don?t shut down, I fire up; ready to argue for what I believe in.

So I don?t think there?s any topic that gets me to shut down. And I?m a little saddened that there seems to be a ?shut up and move on? attitude and a major reluctance to challenge and engage rather than a ?let?s discuss it? attitude around here. People want to express their views. People may have views different to you. Sometimes those views are loathsome. Deal with it ? don?t retreat in cowardice.

But there are phrases that are always a sign that the argument isn?t going to go anywhere.

?Far left? dismissive nonsense and never accurate.
?Politically correct? doesn?t mean anything and invalidates nothing.
?Fanboy? like politically correct. And then you have to take time out from the meat of your argument to explain why.

The hyper-cynical attitude really grates me as well. ?I don?t want to live on this planet anymore? is always something that gets my blood boiling at someone online, whereas ?broken Britain? and silly slogans like that outside the net that show the arguer has just given up for no reason. It?s just childish.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

I can tolerate a lot of things, but don't bring up the Godwin Point in front of me. Don't compare someone or something that's of a restrictive nature to anything ranging from Nazi Germany to North Korea's current state of affairs. Or, at least, don't do it in front of me.

The Godwin Point is to discussions what roadblocks are to busy thoroughfares. They're unexpected and utterly designed for force traffic to swerve in one specific direction. I hate arguments that try and tweak my sense of self as a moral human being to make me "admit" that I'm supposedly wrong. A lot of theists tend to do that when confronted with atheists and agnostics, and it annoys me to no fucking end.

Nowadays, it tends to get shortened to one of the Zoidberg memes by idiotic folks who think they're using it correctly.

Person: "YOUR OPINION IS BAD AND YOU SHOULD FEEL BAD!"
Me: "How so very 2010. Grow up, yelling at me won't make me change my mind. Offer counter-arguments, listen to what I have to say, or shut the Hell up."

 

[DYin01]

Any mention of logical fallacies.

How about coming up with a real point, eh guys? ;p

If people are constantly pointing out that your logic is fallacious and citing the specific fallacies you're employing they -are- making real points. Maybe you should pay attention.

Thank you for that.

If someone points out serious flaws in your logic the points you make are invalid. You might be making a claim and providing arguments to back that claim up, so when someone points out fallacies in your logic he's rendering your arguments invalid, thus making your claim unjustified.

 

[Zyst]

"Well that's your opinion" completely shuts down any interest, if it's a subjective topic I go like sure, yeah. And I don't argue about those that much in the first place, and if I do I do it jokingly and in a light mood. But when talking about objective stuff "No man, Dinosaurs existed and there's fossils from x time period, etc..." "Well that's your opinion, and it goes against the Bible which says the world was created in 7 days and humans [...]" I just get pissed, no it is not my opinion it's a fact, I don't really care if it conflicts with religions (I'm agnostic, I think there might be a god or maybe not but I don't follow a religion before you say: "You atheist piece of..") But still, I digress.

That's just how I feel anyway, it just feels like a total bail out.

Captcha: Karma Points, thanks man.

 

[krodux]

The Classic: "Swag/YOLO"

 

[jdogtwodolla]

When someone starts criticizing a general group opinion by stating "because it's the cool/dark and edgy thing to think" right after the group is giving actual reasons they have that opinion.

And then insults.

 

[Baneat]

90% of cases of "In my opinion"/imho
"That's your opinion"
mentions of subjectivity and objectivity

nope nope nope you're fucking retarded the IMO element is always implicit when it needs to be. If I say "Cheese makes a toastie more than the ham does" and you say "OMG notan objective fact you can't measure that!" you're a fucking bellend.

 

[AsurasEyes]

Politics for me as well, especially around election time. If I hear someone openly attacking my beliefs, or saying something extreamly stupid I'll defend, maybe attack given the situation, but it's usually pretty hard to provoke me.

Another one, especially on this forum- "Hey, Let's talk about circumcision!" Because nothing ever goes wrong in that thread.

LOL FAG YOU CAN'T TAKE NOTYHGINH YOURS SUHGA PUSY!

You sharemy personal philosophy of politics and stupid people... good

OT:
"As a mother..."
"I'm not a racist..."
"I'm a half-(anything not human)"
"(Angst)..."
"I hate my parents..."
"Soldiers are a bunch of..."